Find out more about the some of the pastoral communities marked in Figs. 11 and 13.

Figure 11

Figure 13

Dhangars — The Dhangars are a herding caste of people found majorly in Indian states of Maharashtra and Karnataka. Initially, there were twelve tribes of Dhangars. The Dhangars have been guardians of livestock, weaving traditions, and cultural resilience. Most of them were shepherds, some were blanket weavers, and still others were buffalo herders. The Dhangar shepherds stayed in the central plateau of Maharashtra during the monsoon. This was a semi-arid region with low rainfall and poor soil. It was covered with thorny scrub. Nothing but dry crops like bajra could be sown here. In the monsoon this tract became a vast grazing ground for the Dhangar flocks.

Monpas — The Monpa people, also known as the Monpas, are a significant tribe in the northeastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. The Monpas are believed to be the only nomadic tribe in Northeast India. They rely on animals such as sheep, cows, yaks, goats, and horses for their livelihood. The Monpas are further divided into six sub-groups based on language variations.

Zulu — Zulu people are a native ethnic group of Southern Africa. They hold a rich cultural heritage and are the largest ethnic group in South Africa. The Zulu were originally a minor clan founded around 1574 by Zulu kaMalandela. Zulus take pride in their ceremonies, such as the Umhlanga (Reed Dance), where young women participate in a dance celebrating purity and womanhood.

Turkana — The Turkana people, also known as the Turkana, are a Nilotic ethnic group native to Turkana County in northwest Kenya. The Turkana inhabit a semi-arid climate region bordering Lake Turkana in the east. The Turkana are mainly semi-nomadic pastoralists who raise camels and weave baskets. Their oral traditions designate them as “the people of the grey bull”, highlighting the significance of domesticated Zebu cattle in their history.